Jitan Ram Manjhi’s dilemma: Picking the perfect candidate for Imamganj.
Patna October 18, 2024: The upcoming by-election for the Imamganj assembly constituency seat in Bihar has created a challenging situation for Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, the leader of Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS and a key member of the NDA alliance.
The seat, which became vacant after Manjhi’s resignation, is likely to go to a member of his family, but the decision is proving difficult due to multiple contenders from within his own household.
Three main contenders for ticket in Jitan Ram Manjhi’s family:
Three members of Jitan Ram Manjhi’s family are vying for the ticket of Imamganj by-poll and Deepa Manjhi is seems to the front contender of it.
Deepa Manjhi, the daughter-in-law of Jitan Ram Manjhi and wife of Santosh Kumar Suman, the cabinet minister in the Bihar government is the frontrunner.
She has been active in state politics and is seen as a strong candidate due to her political engagement, particularly her support of her husband in his work and her experience in Panchayat elections.
Additionally, the women’s quota may work in her favour. She is also known for her vocal stance against the opposition, particularly the Lalu Prasad Yadav family.
Parveen Manjhi, the younger son of Jitan Ram Manjhi, was initially considered a strong contender, as his father wanted him to promote him politically.
However, with Santosh Manjhi already holding a significant political position, Parveen‘s chances seem slimmer now, especially with Deepa Manjhi emerging as a major contender.
Devendra Manjhi, who is the son-in-law of JItan Ram Manjhi, is also in the race for a ticket.
He previously contested from Makhdumpur assembly seat in 2020 but lost. He is preparing to contest from Imamganj, believing himself to be a strong contender for the HAMS ticket.
While all three family members have their claims, Deepa Manjhi seems to be in the lead, both due to her political engagement and support within the family and party.
Imamganj is a stronghold of Jitan Ram Manjhi:
The final decision is expected to balance family dynamics and electoral strategy, with inputs also being sought from BJP, HAM ally in the NDA.
Despite internal competition, HAMS’s strong presence in Imamganj, bolstered by Jitan Ram Manjhi’s long-standing influence, is likely to remain intact regardless of the candidate chosen.
Bihar by-poll will contest on Imamganj, Tarari, Belaganj and Ramgarh seats and polling will be held on November 13. The result will come out on November 23, 2024.
Also Read: By-poll of 4 seats of Bihar will take place on November 13.
EOM.